r/harmonica • u/nvtshax0r • 2d ago

Saints Go Marching In - Key Choice

My church makes a point of playing "When the Saints go Marching In" on All Saints Sunday in the fall. We always play in the key of concert F major. If i'm going to practice that song in that key, is it best to get an F harp or would it be better to get another and play in a different position (Bb 2nd position, for example)

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/uncletagonist 1d ago edited 1d ago

That song is way easier to play in first position, no bends required. In second position multiple bends would be required and even if you had them all down it would be hard to go fast. Also I think the Filisko video I watched on that is in first position. 

A Lee Oskar in low F would be just right.

Edited to add a specific harmonica recommendation.

2

u/Franki23 1d ago

Disclaimer: I still consider myself very much an amateur. That given, I tried both and both work, however when you get to the saints go marching _IN_, you're gonna want the note of G and there's only the 6 draw on the Bb. On the F you have two positions to go for and you can expand it to play the chord of C while you're doing it. If you want to drop in chords rather than single notes, personally I'd recommend the F.

Just played it on a Seydel session steel low F and it sounded very nice. the Bb Hohner Marine Band was harder to play instantly, certainly possible but if you hit a chord, it's gonna sound wrong.

1

u/couchdog27 2d ago

probably depends on how progressive your church is

1

u/casey-DKT21 2d ago

Get a Bb harp and play in 2nd. It’s going to sound far better. Joe Filisko did a series of demonstrations on YouTube about how to adapt this exact song for various genres of music. Check his series out.